BY DAKOTA TAIT
Police arrested three men on Friday morning, alleged to be connected to a spate of crimes across the Hunter.
Detectives with the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad launched Strike Force Conge last month, in response to a number of armed robberies in the region.
Officers attached to Newcastle City, Lake Macquarie, and Port Stephens-Hunter Police Districts also assisted.
14 incidents are being investigated in relation to the men in custody, including the armed robbery and assault of an employee outside the Blackbutt Hotel, the assault and robbery of a 79-year-old man in Charlestown, and the armed robbery of a Morpeth service station, which ended in a 47-year-old man being stabbed in the abdomen.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives executed five search warrants at properties in Maryland, Horseshoe Bend, Metford, Tenambit and Tamworth at 6am on Friday morning.
A 21-year-old man was arrested at Tamworth and taken to Tamworth Police Station.
An 18-year-old Horseshoe Bend man was arrested at a home at Largs and taken to Newcastle Police Station.
A third man, aged 19, was arrested at Maryland and taken to Waratah Police Station.
A number of items, believed to be related to investigations, were also seized.
Police say they don't believe there are any outstanding offenders.
All three are expected to be charged as investigations under Strike Force Conge continue.
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| Set Insp Adam Bird addressed reporters on Friday morning. |
